Genome-wide Association Analysis of Tobacco Flowering Time

The flowering time affects the yield and quality of tobacco leaves, which is an important trait that determines ecological adaptability and yield, and is closely related to various biotic or abiotic stresses. It is of great significance to understand the genetic basis and the molecular mechanism of flowering regulation in tobacco. In the current study, we use the Multi-parent Advanced Generation Inter-cross (MAGIC) papulation as research materials and SNP analysis was carried out using tobacco Gene Tian chip. The Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS) between the flowering time and SNPs were implemented. A total of 13 significant loci associated with flowering time were identified, among which the SNP located at 109 616 410 bp of Chromosome 12 was the most significant loci. The Ntab0279610 gene was predicted through annotation, which is highly homologous with the key gene SOC1 of Arabidopsis thaliana for controlling flowering, and may play a pivotal role in controlling flowering time of tobacco. The results of relevant studies lay a foundation for further studying the genetic regulation mechanism and breeding improvement of tobacco flowering time.